A Wider Bridge and our community partners Mosaic of Westchester, Temple Israel Center, and Keshet Invite you to meet the leaders of Ma’avarim Israel’s Transgender Rights Organization

5:00 – 6:45 Program & Dinner for Teens
Westchester teens! Join us for a free dinner at TIC to meet Alan, Adi and Amy – three young Israeli leaders of Ma’avarim working to make Israel a place for transgender teenagers and young adults to grow and thrive. (this program is intended for teenagers only.)

7:00 – 8:30 Westchester Community Wine & Cheese Reception
Join members of Westchester’s LGBT and Jewish communities (allies encouraged to come!) to hear from Ma’avarim Executive Director Elisha Alexander and young leaders Alan, Adi and Amy, as they talk about the inspiring work of Ma’avarim – building community and advocating for transgender rights in Israel.

We are thrilled to announced our groundbreaking U.S. tour with leaders from the Israel’s transgender community. The U.S. tour, presented by A Wider Bridge, will introduce Ma’avarim (Hebrew for “transitions”) to LGBT leaders and communities in five cities across the U.S. (South Florida, New York, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles) to highlight the Israeli transgender community’s diversity and progress towards equality, as well as their need for advocacy and support as they work to address their ongoing challenges and needs.

Tel Aviv Municipality Building lit in recognition of the Transgender Community

Over the past several years, the Israeli transgender community has gained a stronger and more prominent role within Israel’s LGBT community, and garnered greater recognition of their contributions and achievements in Israel. Yet the Israeli trans community still faces many challenges in the public and legal arenas – particularly outside of progressive, secular Tel Aviv. Elisha Alexander, Executive Director of Ma’avarim, and three young Israeli transgender leaders join A Wider Bridge to discuss their work of building transgender community and advocacy all across Israel.

Ma’avarim was established with the goal to empower and support members of the trans community, facilitating both personal and social change. Using an innovative approach to trauma within marginalized communities, and burnout among activists, “Ma’avarim” aims to bring about positive change in our society, our communities, and in the life of each and every one of us.

Meet Elisha Alexander, Executive Director of Ma’avarim

Elisha Alexander, 41, lives in Tel-Aviv, serves as the founding director of Ma’avarim, the NGO for the Israeli transgender community. Coming out as trans at the age of 30, Elisha mobilized grassroots transgender activism in Israel today, promoting much needed trans visibility. A relentless community organizer, he has produced everything from trans-friendly S&M play parties, to Transgender Remembrance Day vigils, drag festivals, drag king calendars, the first and second radical queer march (alternative to Tel Aviv municipality Gay Pride parade), and alternative radical queer parties. Elisha is also one of the founders of the Green Bloc for trans visibility, as well as Gila Project.

Today, Elisha’s work includes promoting sustainable activism – capacity building, and holistic healing of insidious trauma within the trans community, through Ma’avarim.

A Wider Bridge is a North American organization working through education, advocacy, relationship-building and grant-making to create equality in Israel by expanding LGBTQ inclusion in Israel, and equality for Israel by cultivating constructive engagement with Israel.

#Pride

LGBTQ pride is more than just a parade. It’s being proud of oneself as LGBTQ and being proud of our communities. It’s showing the world we’re here, queer, and fabulous. Read the stories published on our website on this very important topic. Read here >>

Film

In ‘Montana’ (2017), Efi returns to her hometown of Akko following her grandfather’s passing and meets Karen – a teacher, wife and mother of two. The two women instantly form a connection and fall in love. watch the trailer >>

Organization

LGBTQ Refugees Program, a project of the Aguda, assists some of Israel’s most at risk populations. Read more >>